Life & Work with Roger Reutimann of Boulder, CO

Today we’d like to introduce you to Roger Reutimann

Hi Roger, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
In the lyrics of Paul McCartney’s song “The Long and Winding Road”, the journey to where I am today has been just that—long and winding. I was born and raised in a small village in the Swiss countryside, where my creative spirit was shaped by my surroundings. I grew up in a 450-year-old farmhouse with dozens of rooms and attics filled with relics from past generations—an endless playground for my imagination. From an early age, I was drawn to all things creative: woodworking, metalworking, sewing my own clothes, leaded glass working, pottery, painting—and my deepest passion, classical piano, which I began playing at the age of six.

But my parents, especially my father, didn’t share my creative ambitions. He saw art and music as “breadless” professions — pursuits unlikely to provide a stable future. Instead, he suggested I take up a more practical career and start an apprenticeship as a chef. It was a crushing blow. At 16, I moved to Zurich to work in a restaurant, but I couldn’t let go of my artistic drive. In secret, I prepared for and passed the entrance exams for the Zurich University of the Arts, where I began studying a year later.

After earning my master’s degree in art and completing my apprenticeship, I pursued classical piano at the Zurich Conservatory for three semesters. But I had to face the painful truth that passion alone wasn’t enough to succeed in the highly competitive world of classical pianists. My parents then encouraged me to attend a restaurant and hotel management school — and so the pendulum swung back toward practicality. Like most young people, I struggled to find my path.

At one point, I even found myself working at an investment management firm — a mind-numbing and uninspiring job that left me wondering what I was doing with my life. Six months in, fate intervened. An attorney who also owned a Swiss sculpture gallery approached me with an offer to work as a gallery manager. It was a dream come true. I was finally immersed in the art world, and I loved every moment of it.

A few months into the job, I proposed that we apply to participate in the prestigious Basel Art Fair to expand our reach. When our application was rejected, I saw it not as a failure, but as an opportunity. Determined to understand the business side of the art world, I applied for — and landed — a position as the assistant to the director of the Basel Art Fair. My goal was to eventually launch an art fair of my own.

That vision became reality when we founded an art fair in Zurich. It was a success, but the venue was too small to accommodate enough galleries to make it financially sustainable. So, we moved the fair to Hamburg and later to Düsseldorf, Germany. Over the next seven years, we built it into a major event, hosting up to 350 galleries from 28 countries. But success came at a cost. The constant stress and pressure, coupled with substance abuse, took a toll on me. Burned out and mentally exhausted, I knew it was time to walk away.

After stepping away from the intense demands of the art business, I suddenly had all the time in the world. But I was burned out — oversaturated with the art world and especially the business side of it, which can be ruthless and far removed from the romantic notion of being a creative artist. I knew I needed to find a new passion, and that passion emerged in the form of product design.

I had always been fascinated by light fixtures, so I started a company designing and manufacturing small-editions of handcrafted lamps. Once again, my professional life thrived. My designs gained attention, and the business became a success. But success came at a cost. Over the past decade, my personal life had taken a back seat to my career. That all changed in the spring of 1996.

While vacationing in Miami Beach, I met my current partner, Jon. It was a pivotal moment. Inspired by this new chapter in my life, I decided to sell my business and make a bold move — relocating to the United States. Over the next seven years, Jon and I embarked on an ambitious project: designing and building our dream home from the ground up, doing all the work ourselves. It was a massive undertaking, but the result was extraordinary. The house became a visual landmark, featured in over 100 print and TV commercials and even highlighted in Architectural Digest.

During that time, I rediscovered my love for painting and sculpting — the creative spark I had pushed aside while immersed in the business world. When the house was finally complete, I knew it was time to commit fully to my true passion. I decided to become a full-time professional artist.

In 2008, Jon and I moved to Boulder, Colorado, where I’ve been living and working for the last 17 years. After a long and winding road, I feel like I’ve finally arrived. My journey — from art student to business entrepreneur to full-time artist — has shaped me into the person and creator I am today.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I believe that everyone’s struggle as a young person is to find their true calling. For me, the challenge wasn’t a lack of passion — it was having “too many” interests. I’ve never been someone who sets a rigid end goal; instead, I’ve always found fulfillment in the journey itself. The problem is that once I’ve mastered something and reached a level of success, I’m usually ready for the next adventure.

Early on, I saw this as a weakness. Conventional wisdom says that once you’ve established yourself professionally, it makes no sense to walk away and start over. Why abandon success? But over time, I’ve come to see this trait as a strength. The ability to pivot, explore new creative avenues, and push beyond comfort has been essential to my growth as an artist and as a person.

Success can be a trap — it’s easy to get comfortable and settle into what’s familiar. But I’ve learned that true creativity and personal fulfillment come from constant reinvention. Every time I’ve walked away from something successful — whether it was running an art fair, designing a product line, or even leaving Europe for the U.S. — it wasn’t a step back, it was a step toward something new and more authentic.

Challenges and setbacks are inevitable, but they’re also where growth happens. If I’ve learned anything, it’s that success isn’t about reaching a fixed destination — it’s about staying curious, taking risks, and never being afraid to reinvent yourself.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
My many interests are reflected in my art. I enjoy working with a variety of materials — from bronze and stainless steel to automotive paint — and exploring different styles, ranging from realism to abstraction. I’m drawn to creating work that is socially critical, but I try to balance that with a touch of humor to make the message more approachable.

Over the years, my work has found its way into both institutional and private collections. I’ve been fortunate to have my sculptures shown internationally, with pieces in museums and collected by notable figures like Sir Elton John, Emily Blunt, and Anderson Cooper. Some of my works have even been auctioned at Christie’s and Sotheby’s, which is incredibly humbling.

Lately, I’ve been focusing more on public art, which has been an exciting shift. Public installations allow me to engage with a broader audience and create pieces that become part of a community’s landscape. Last year, I was honored to win the CODAworx People’s Choice Award for “Cadillactus” (see image), a public sculpture in Palm Springs — a recognition that means a lot because it came from the public itself.

While I’m proud of what I’ve accomplished so far, I see my work as an ongoing process of exploration. Art, for me, is about staying curious and open to new ideas — that’s what keeps it interesting.

Who else deserves credit in your story?
I’ve always been a bit of a lone wolf. Most of what I do, I do on my own. It’s not that I don’t enjoy collaborating with others — it’s just that seeking out mentors or supporters has never come naturally to me. Independence has always been at the core of my creative process.

That said, I draw tremendous inspiration from historic figures who have achieved greatness. I read a lot of biographies, and the lives and creative journeys of people like Chopin, Rachmaninoff, Da Vinci, Karl Lagerfeld, and Alexander McQueen have deeply influenced how I think about art and creativity. Their work—whether in music, art, or fashion—feels interconnected and endlessly inspiring to me.

I’ve never depended on encouragement or validation to stay motivated. I think compliments and criticism often say more about the person giving them than about the work itself. That said, I’m always grateful when people connect with my art — but my drive really comes from the process of creating and exploring new ideas.

Even though I tend to work independently, I know that no artist creates in a vacuum. I value intense, thought-provoking conversations with creatives from all walks of life. The creative legacy of those who came before me — and the engagement of those who respond to my work — have undoubtedly shaped my path.

Image captions:
CADILLACTUS, Palm Springs, CA. Materials: Steel, Fiberglass and Automotive Paint
A blend of mid-century modern design and desert landscape

REGENERATO, Community Center Town of Superior. Material: Charred Birch Plywood
In commemoration of the Marshall Fires, symbolizing regrowth of beauty from the ashes

CORPORATOCRACY, Museo National, Havana, Cuba. Material: Bronze
A humorous take on an economic and political system controlled by corporations

MATI, Courtesy of Space Gallery, Denver. Material: Airbrushed Automotive Paint
Airbrushed portrait of fashion model Mati Fall

MORPHO I, Arvada Center for the Arts, Arvada. Materials: Aluminum composite and Auto Paint
Abstract interpretation of a Morpho butterfly, using iridescent automotive paints. Airbrushed

CYBER DROPPINGS, Courtesy of Hohmann Gallery, Palm Springs. Materials: Fiberglass, Concrete and Automotive Paint
A commentary on the negative effects of social media. The spread of lies and conspiracies

FALSE IDOL, UBS bank, Zurich. Materials: Bronze and Automotive Paint
About the worship of money and material things

PERCEPTION #1, Burj Khalifa, Dubai. Materials: Stainless Steel, Automotive Paint
Figurative-abstract sculpture inspired by cubism

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.rogerreutimann.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/roger_reutimann_artist

Image Credits
Roger Reutimann